A few tidbits, the non-Vlad edition

*For the latest on the O’s offer to Vladimir Guerrero, you can look at what I blogged earlier today, or the story on the site. (As always, instant answers to your questions on this are always welcome on Twitter, with any breaking updates I get available on the blog.)

Here’s what else is going on..

*According to my MLB.com colleague Evan Drellich, lefty reliever Joe Beimel has narrowed his choices down to three and could sign as soon as today. The Baltimore Sun reported that the O’s have a Minor League offer out to Beimel, who would be a near-lock to make the team out of camp. The Orioles are also optimistic that recent signee Clay Rapada can help a ‘pen, that right now, has just one lefty: Michael Gonzalez.

*Alfredo Simon’s appeal of his preventive prison was postponed until February 1st, according to the Associated Press. The postponement’s not a big deal; it was made at his lawyer’s request.

*Also, I’ve gotten a few weather-related FanFest questions and right now there’s nothing I’ve heard that suggests the Orioles will cancel the event. I know the forecast calls for more snow, but Saturday’s event is still on. For more info you can go to http://www.orioles.com/fanfest.

*It’s been quite a winter in the AL East, as MLB.com’s senior columnist Hal Bodley writes today. Here’s the bit on the Orioles…

“I don’t believe the Orioles will contend for the postseason in 2011, but they’re obviously better.

Baltimore has not had a winning season since 1997, when the Orioles
won the division title. In fact, they haven’t had more than 70 victories
in the past four seasons.

“This is the toughest division in baseball,” said O’s president Andy
MacPhail, who rebuilt the infield with trades for J.J. Hardy and Mark
Reynolds, plus the signing of free-agent first baseman Derrek Lee. He
also added Kevin Gregg to the bullpen.”

Bodley, like many others, has the Red Sox pegged as the early favorites to win the division.

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